Avera on Thursday announced it had launched GeneFolio, a relatively inexpensive test that gives patients a "more precise" idea of the most effective medications for them.

The GeneFolio test costs $179 plus lab fees, and is now available across the Avera system. The test examines several genes that impact the effects of medications for pain, depression and other mental illnesses, cholesterol and some types of blood thinners.

"Three out of four people have genetic variations that determine how their bodies process medication. That’s why prescribing the right medication is often a process," Avera said in a news release about GeneFolio.

The test won't tell doctors what to prescribe but serves as a tool to determine the best medications for a patient.

“Finding an effective medication can sometimes be difficult for these categories of pain, behavioral health and statins. In some cases, it can take years of trial and error,” said Dr. Carilyn Van Kalsbeek, family practitioner with Avera Medical Group, in a news release. “The ability to more accurately pinpoint effective medications means patients can regain their quality of life faster.”

The test is a step forward in pharmacogenomics, the study of DNA to understand how patients will handle certain medicines.

“Pharmacogenomics is on the leading edge of genomic medicine and something Avera has been advancing for almost a decade,” said Gareth Davies, chief scientific officer and scientific director at the Avera Institute for Human Genetics. “We’re excited to offer this test to patients that will serve as a guide for their care for decades to come.”